Ball handling mechanism



June 30, 1959 e. A. MONTOOTH BALL HANDLING MECHANISM 5 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 24, 1954 G. A. MONTOOTH BALL HANDLING MECHANISM June 30, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 24, 1954 June 30,1959 7 G.A. 'MONTO'OTH 2,892,632

BALL HANDLING MECHANISM Filed Nov; 24. 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I INVENTOR.

United States Patent BALL HANDLING MECHANISM George A. Montooth, Long Beach, Calif., assignor to The Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, a corporation of Delaware Application November 24, 1954, Serial No. 471,012

7 Claims. (Cl. 273-49) This invention relates to ball elevating mechanism and more particularly to a rotating ball elevator for use with an automatic pinsetter. I

An object of this invention is to provide a improved ball elevating mechanism.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved ball elevating mechanism wherein the balls are elevated by a ring-type rotating elevator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ball elevating mechanism including a rotating annular member and a pair of vertically arcuate tracks having generally horizontal lower ends mounted within the periphery of the annular member whereby the annular member engages the underside of a ball and elevates it along the tracks to a discharge track.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ringtype rotating ball elevator extending across the alley pit for engaging a bowling ball and, in association with vertically arcuate tracks disposed within the periphery of the ball elevator, elevating the ball to a discharge track. Another object of the invention is to provide ball elevating mechanism in the form of a pair of verticallydisposed, spaced-apart, arcuately-shaped track members which are spaced from a ring-shaped or annular ball elevating member a distance slightly less than the diameter of a bowling ball and are positioned within the periph cry of the ball elevating member, one of said track members being disposed forwardly of the elevating member and the other track member being disposed rearwardly of the elevating member, the lower end of the track member disposed forwardly of the ball elevator being pivotally mounted in order to move vertically as a ball moves thereunder and to then return downwardly to a position wherein the ball is confined between the pair of track members and rests on the ball elevating member and may be elevated by the rotating ball elevating member.

The objects of the invention generally set forth, together with other ancillary advantages, are attained'by the construction and arrangement shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view in elevation of the ball and pin elevating mechanism as mounted in a bowling alley;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view in elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1 with the ball elevating mechanism removed;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view in elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2 and particularly the mechanism for resetting the pin-engaging paddle members;

Fig. 4 is a vertical view in section of one of the pinengaging paddle members showing the latch mechanism for holding the paddle member in its extended pinengaging position; and,

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic end view in elevation of the ball elevating mechanism showing a ball engaged between the annular ball-elevating member and the spacedapart track members looking toward the mechanism from the left-hand end of Fig. 1.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in new and Patented June 30, 1959 many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail an illustrative embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

My improved pin and ball elevating mechanism may be mounted at the rear of a pit having side walls one of which is indicated at 1 and a pit floor formed of a plurality of moving belts 2, 3 and 4. Reference may be had to my co-pending application, Serial No. 2205, filed January 14, *1948, now Patent No. 2,729,449, granted January 3, 1956, for a complete disclosure as to the construction and drive for these belts. T-he belts 2 and 4 are moved in a manner whereby their upper reaches move toward the middle belt 3, the upperreac-h of which moves toward the rear of the pit. Thus, it will be seen that pins and a ball will be directed to the rear of the pit at a point or position approximately mid-way between the sides thereof.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a vertically-disposed framework is formed from one set of connected channel members 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 which are interconnected with another set of connected channel members 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16, the two sets of channel members being reenforced by cross members such as 17 and 18 and being interconnected by channel members 19, 20, 21 and 22. Rotatably mounted within the framework is a ball elevating mechanism which is in the form of a rotatably mounted ring-shaped or annular member 25 and a pair of cooperating arcuately-shaped, spaced-apart track members 26 and 27 which are vertically disposed and spaced apart from the annular member 25 a distance slightly less than the diameter of a bowling ball A.

The annular member 25 is driven by a belt 30 disposed about the outer periphery of the annular member and passing over a driving pulley 31. Guide rollers 32, 33, 3'4, and 35 mounted in the supporting framework function' to guide the annular member 25 for rotation and also to guide belt 30 on the periphery of the annular member. A weighted roller 36 is mounted on pivotal arms, one of them being shown at 37 and functions to maintain the belt 30 taut.

A- ball trap mechanism is provided to insure that a ball will be properly engaged by the track members 26 and 27 so as to ensure proper alignment of the ball with the annular member 25. This mechanism takes the form of pivotally mounting the lower end 38 ofthe track member 27 by means of a bracket 39 secured to asupport block 40 for the lower track end 38 and a hinge'member 41 connected to a central frame member 42. It will thus be seen that the lowermost position of the annular member 25 is adjacent the conveyor 3 which constitutes a ball pickup position. As a ball is moved onto the annular member 25, it will cause slight upward movement of the lower track end 38 to permit movement of the ball into engagement with the lower end 26a of the track member 26. As this occurs, the lower end 38 will lower slightly and the ball will be rolled up the track members 26 and 27 by clockwise rotation of the annular member 25 as shown in Fig. 1. A plurality of wires indicated generally at 45 secured to brackets 46, 47, 48 and 49 form aside guide to prevent accidental movement of a ball rearwardly of the track member 26. The upper ends of the track members 26 and 27 terminate in wires 50, 51 and 52 which form'a discharge track for receiving a ball and guiding it to a conventional return track, not shown.

The track member 27 is disposed forwardly of the ball advancing member 25 while the track member 26 is disposed rearwardly of the ball advancing member 25 at cdhtact bf anti-n1 member 25 with the ball A isat Tidiiitbetweiidhe points iiiade by Earlene? s v n by d i epu l T e n a im ber 60 jis,guided m plurality o f, guide rollers. 63,64, 65 and ;6' ..11Q tsdai t ame ork h re de l r as; fie .6 also i a t o Q-s r i t el AS then ninth: were t-b ndsuns t; ia-la h t ,As shown mgre clearly in Fig, 3, .the annular1 memben (60 is provided with a v rirn madeup of rim: parts 71 and 72, Ihe rim 72 is eta-slightly greater diameter than ha z pq nt a d t a s s v ra n i pul y 1 9- 1 2;

rim-.71 so that-gagpair of iouterflanges 73 and 745011-the .QA S' ShQWn in Figs, 2,3 and thepaddle a i allpfawhich are identical; are pivotally mounted on brackets;;80 secured; to the inner; side, of the. rim portion 172.: Inasmuch as each oft-the paddle members are/iden- E'iiQfi1,;Only,0n 6 will .beides'cribedgin detail. a i ,i ,1 Each bracket 80 t has :earsf .81 5 and 8.2- .between 1 which I a pin 83 extends upon which? the: paddle member--77 is ipivotallygmounted, 3 A; spring 85 connected between :the :bracket-SO-and the,paddlevmember 77 urges the paddle member to,a;pos'ition Wl11' 6 1l1:1t extends radially of the annular member 60,1for arpurposeihereinaftevmore fully set; forth. lThe paddle memberi'fl is held in a position wherein ,itf' extends parallel: to :the axis of" the annular lmembenfi0land-against the-aCtionfofthe spring 84'by an rlz-shaped-l'atch 'rnemberNSSrWhieIi-has an: end 86 mengagement with a notch 87 in the inner end of the' paddle ine'mber '77; I; The latch memb'er 'tlS: is pivotally mounted ona'bracket 'Stlandis urged' into latchingiposition by a spring .89 connected; between the latch-member and the 'mounting bracket80i n As-pin's are-directed to (the rear of thepit-ibythe pit floor? belt 3; they engage-*the ball elevating member 25 which tends to: disperse grouped pins and align thepins with :their axes extending in the 'direction 0f pin'travel;

'Tliespins pass beyond theiballeadvancing annular mem- 4 her 25 mid -into a pin guiding'jchannelformedby a plu rality of wires 90, 91992 and 93 :which are -mounted on a pluralitybf'braekets-194g 95; 96, 97;" 98 and 99. The wires forni the l curved 1 pin" guiding ch'annel' having ;a

lowermost position adjacent the pit floor slightly below I wires -93 will be movedalong the channel by a pin engaging paddle 77 iiiit il the pin passesbet weefi th e belts 100 and 101. The pin will then be elevated by the belts and directed out onto the horizontal stretch of belt 100. It is necessary to prevent interference between a paddle member 77 and the belt 100 as the paddle member is carried up betweenthebelts 100 and 101 so that a trip block 117 (Fig.4) is mounted on the frame-work adjacent the lower end of the belts 100 and 101 for tripbinstli1e ini m f fremi paddle m m 77 to' move toits radial position as shown infFigQ The trip block 117 is carried by a stationary portion of the framework and 1 is positioned-so asrto permit the paddle members 77 to effectively position succeeding pins between the belts 100 and-101, and to trip the latches 85 so that the paddle members move past the belts without conflict therewith. As the annular member 60 continues to rotate; rthe'radially-extended paddle member; 77 will contactthe'bent cockingwire and :be resetin its normal pin engaging position, as shown-in Fig. 3. I 5 Although the specific mechanism forms, no partofthis invention, the drive belt'slfor theannulaILmembeIs-ZS and 60-as well as theapin engaging belts ,maybe driven b'y-a motor 'lllvwhich. throughibelts 112- drives a pulley 113 which has asprocket 114 connectedvtherewitht' The sprocket drives the drivingpulley. .31 for, thebelt 30 which drives the ball elevating member25. A sprocket 115 on the same shafts'asthe drivingipulley .31 drivesa sprocket 116 by'meansof a 'chain'118 for driving-thedrive pulley 104 for the-pin engaging belt 101.- The drive pulley 113 has a shaft 120whichmay be interconnected by; mechanism not shown to a shaft 121 upon which the driving pulley 106 forthe belt-100is-mounted. vThe end ofthe shaft 121 has a chain'andsprocket'drive, 122 leadingto asprocket'123u(-Fig.e3) which drives the pulley ;62 for the belt til-which drives the'annular pin advancing member 6037 Il..' 1; b :2 v I Z? '11.: t Z711 he balland 'pin separating apparatus .disclosediherein isclaimed in my ;copending idivisionahapplication Serial 'Nol"639 ,698,-filed February .-l2;: 1957;

1:111 0181111? v "I .1: -"-li'=A"ball elevating" mechanism for use-with a;b,owling alley having a a pit provided with; mechanism therein for directing balls to a ball: pickup 2 positionjat the :rear 'of the' pit and: approximately.amid-way between the sides' thereof; comprising; in combination, v,a, vertically disposedsupporting: framework: extending across the rear ofthe pit,-'-an annular ball "elevating member vertically disposed in said frameworkand having its lowerexnann adjacentthe ball pickup position, means including a driven belt disposed around the periphery of the annular member for imparting rotation thereto, a guide rollerscniounted-insaid iframeworleand in engagement with' said annular member; and :belt {for guiding y the ;annular 1 member; and: belt ifor rotation @in 1 a fixed I path, means disposed within theperiphery of the annular member for guiding a'nd-holdinga' bowling: ballagainst the annular mieriiberhsra ball is; elevated thereby including :aqpan of vertically disposed spaced aparttrack members 'arcuately'shaped': to correspond to;the curvature of the annular :member and spaced frorn the ball elevatora distance less than the diameter of a bowlingbalhthe theflbwe moktifigsitfgfl-fof thewfiafl elevating member 25 All: lower ends Of said 'track members 'being substantially libriz'ontal and. terminating in a: position above the: ball pickup position',fl6neofthe' b'alhtrack members vbeing disposed "forwardly{of the annular member and the other H bei gqnp sea re-the rear-of the annular member," and andf101'-(Fig- 1) wvhieh pass around a pairofilowerpulllays-11p: and'- 103; respectively-f The'f'belt 101 eiitends yertically and passesaroiirid a *driving rollerf'ltl l while means mounting the lower 'end ofithe 'irorwafdly disposed ball track member for verticalmovement 'sof that t e lowerend. of said balltr ack member may be raised as ajball ntoengagement *therewith' *to permit rename s i tl ?ihs b i fe dn w return a; itsinitialposition so; that a ball will be guided v between;i231RF=P3PF i mii t e i l thereby in order to insure alignment of the ball with the annular member and elevation thereby.

2. A ball elevating mechanism for use with a bowling alley having a pit provided with a mechanism therein for directing balls to a ball pickup position comprising, in combination, a vertically-disposed supporting framework, an annular ball elevating member vertically disposed in said framework and having its lower extremity adjacent the ball pickup position, means including a driven belt disposed around the periphery of the annular member for imparting rotation thereto, guide rollers mounted in said framework and in engagement with said annular member and belt for guiding the annular member and belt for rotation in a fixed path, means disposed within the periphery of the annular member for guiding and holding a bowling ball against the annular member as a ball is elevated thereby including a pair of vertically disposed spaced apart track members shaped to correspond to the curvature of the annular member and spaced from the ball elevator a distance slightly less than the diameter of a bowling ball, the lower ends of said track members being substantially horizontal and terminating in a position above the ball pickup position, one of the ball track members being disposed forwardly of the annular member and the other being disposed to the rear of the annular member, and means mounting the lower end of the forwardly disposed ball track memher for vertical movement so that the lower end of said ball track member may be raised as a ball moves into engagement therewith to permit movement of a ball therebeyond and then may return to its initial position so that a ball will be guided between said spaced apart track members and engaged thereby in order to insure alignment of the ball with the annular member and elevation thereby.

3. A ball elevating mechanism for use with a bowling alley having a pit provided with a mechanism therein for directing balls to a ball pickup position at the rear of the pit and approximately mid-way between the sides thereof, comprising, in combination, a vertically-disposed supporting framework extending across the rear of the pit, a ring-shaped ball elevating member vertically disposed in said framework and having its lower extremity adjacent the ball pickup position, means for rotating the ball elevating member in a fixed path, and means for guiding and holding a bowling ball against the inner surface of the ball elevating member as a ball is elevated thereby including a pair of spaced apart track members shaped to correspond to the curvature of the ball elevating member and spaced from the ball elevator a distance less than the diameter of a bowling ball, the lower ends of said track members being substantially horizontal and terminating in a position above the ball pickup position, one of the ball track members being disposed forwardly of the ball elevating member and the other being disposed to the rear of the ball elevating member, and means movably mounting the lower end of the forwardly disposed track member to permit entry of a ball into position between the track members and the elevating member to trap the ball therebetween for elevation thereby.

4. A ball elevating mechanism for use with a bowling alley having a pit and a ball pickup position in the pit comprising, in combination, a vertically-disposed supporting framework, a ring-shaped ball elevating member vertically disposed in said framework and having its lower extremity adjacent the ball pickup position, means for rotating the ball elevating member in a fixed path, and means for guiding and holding a bowling ball against the inner surface of the ball elevating member as a ball is elevated thereby including a pair of spaced apart track members arcuately shaped to correspond to the curvature of the ball elevating member and spaced from the ball elevator a distance slightly less than the diameter of a bowling ball, one of the ball track members being disposed forwardly of the ball elevating member and the other being disposed to the rear of the ball elevating member and means mounting the lower end of the forwardly disposed track member to admit a ball into position between the track members and the elevating member to be rolled up the track members by the elevating member.

5. A ball handling mechanism for use with a bowling alley having a pit and a ball pickup position in the pit comprising, in combination, a ring-shaped ball elevating member disposed in a vertical plane and having an uninterrupted ball engaging inner surface with its lower extremity positioned adjacent the ball pickup position, means for supporting and rotating the ball elevating member in said vertical plane, means for directing a ball onto the inner surface of the ball elevating member at the pickup position so that the ball is supported by the elevating member at the pickup position, and arcuately shaped ball track means disposed within the periphery of the elevating member for guiding and holding a bowling ball against the inner surface of the ball elevating member to be rolled up the track means by the elevating member.

6. A ball elevating mechanism for use with a bowling alley having a pit and a ball pickup position comprising, in combination, a ball elevating member extending transversely of the alley pit and having an exposed uninterrupted radially inner surface movable continuously through an arcuate path having a lower generally horizontal portion at the ball pickup position and an upper portion adjacent a ball discharge position; means for moving the ball elevating member through said arcuate path, means for directing a ball onto said inner surface of the ball elevating member at the ball pickup position so that the ball is initially supported by the ball elevating member, and guide means for guiding and holding a bowling ball against the radially inner surface of the ball elevating member to be rolled up the guide means by the elevating member from the ball pickup position to the ball discharge position.

7. For use with a bowling alley having means in the alley pit for directing balls centrally and rearwardly toward a ball pickup position, a ball elevating mechanism, comprising, in combination, a vertically disposed, ring-shaped ball elevating member extending transversely of the pit and having a continuous ball engaging inner surface with its lower extremity positioned at the ball pickup position so that balls are directed thereonto and supported thereby, means for supporting and rotating the ball elevating member, and guide means disposed within the periphery of the ball elevating member and spaced therefrom to prevent passage of the ball rearwardly and for guiding and holding a bowling ball against the inner surface of the ball elevating member to be rolled up the guide means by the elevating member to a ball discharge position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,190,650 Hedenskoog July 11, 1916 1,706,271 Williams Mar. 19, 1929 2,015,428 Hedenskoog Sept. 24, 1935 2,310,218 Davis Feb. 9, 1943 2,622,879 Frye Dec. 23, 1952 2,625,397 Frye Jan. 13, 1953 2,686,053 Phillips Aug. 10, 1954 2,689,128 Dowd et a1. Sept. 14, 1954 2,699,944 Keesling Jan. 18, 1955 2,699,945 Frye Jan. 18, 1955 

